Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-25
SNUBBING GEN. GRANT.
His TREATMENT BY THE PRINCE OF
WALES AT A BANQUET.

The Heir ipparent's Provincial Notions
OF Hospitality A Slight of Which
Nothing was Said at the Time of It's
Occurrence.
When Gen and Mrs. Grant arrived they
passed first into a large ante-chamber in
which the Prince of Wales happened to be
playing with his two boys. The other guests
had not arrived, and the prince may not have
expected TO be in this hall when Gen Grant
came in; or he may possibly have planned
the accidental reception. He came forward
at once, like any other gentleman in his own
house and gave his hand to Gen. Grant, who
presented Mrs. Grant, and mentioned my
name, which the prince had known before.
Then the prince called up his sons, lads at
that time Of 10 or y, and said he wished
them to know Gen. Grant. He was extreme
Il genial and affable After this he disap-
peared through side door, and an equerry
ushered the party into long waiting room.
We remained nearly half an hour
The dinner party was large; I should think
there were thirty people present. including
several dukes and duchesses and other nobiIi-
Il; the Brazilian minister and his wife were
asked. doubtless out Of compliment to the
Emperor, for whom the dinner was given.
After while a gentleman in waiting ap-
peared and said the princess desired that the
ladies should arrange themselves on one side
Of the room and the men GA the other. so
Gen and Mrs. Grant took their places four
or five from the head Of the line After
apparently ten Minutes further waiting in
this position, al standing. for 10 one had
been seated or been asked to SIT since we
entered, the great doors at the top Of the line
on the right were thrown open and the
empress Of Brazil came III on the ARIA Of the
Prince Of Wales. Next came the princess
with the emperor. They passed directly
between the two lines TO the dining room,
which was opposite the apartment from
which they entered: the empress of Brazil,
however, had known Mrs. Grant III America
when the ladies had each been the wife OF g
great ruler, and she stopped short when she
came to Mrs. Grant and greeted her, but the
other royal ard imperial persoaages includ-
ing the hostess, passed in without recOgniZ-
ing anybody. Then Il number OF dukes and
lesser mobiles were told of to their partners
ard followed the empress and the prince
After every noble person present was thus
assigned Gen. Grant was requested to so in
with Mrs. Pierrelout, and Mrs. Grant with
the Brazilian minister. whom the emperor Of
Brazil looked upon as his servant.
PRECEDENCE OF DUKES
The British government had agreed with
Gfr Pierrepont that the ex-president Of the
United States should have precedence of
dukes, but the Prince of Wales deliberately
put him as nearly Gs possible to the foot Of
the table. There was TO English person of
noble rank who followed Gen. Grant He sat
within three or four feet Of the comptroller
of the household, who was at the extreme
foot; the prince and princess were at the
middle with the emperor and empress. The
Duke of Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess
of Manchester, the Earl and Countess of
Derby, the Earl Of Dudley. were all placed
higher than Gen Grant. When the ladies
left the table every one rose, Of course, and
the empress and princess passed out, and Mrs.
Grant was left to find her way like any other
person of inSignifcance. Then the Prince of
Wales changed his own seat, according to the
English custom, and took that by the side of
the emperor. which the princess had vacated.
IN moment or two he sent an equerry or a
fOotman, forget which, to ask Gen Grant
to sit by the other side of him in his new
place and Gen. Grant left his seat and walked
around the table and a"copted this high honor,
just as any other private gentleman might
have dOne. The prince then was very gracious
in his talk and manner
After q while the gentlemen rejoined the
ladies III the order in which they had come
in, the dukes and carls taking care to assert
their rights of precedence. In one of the
drawing rooms there was music: here the
princess and the empress sat apart and list
ened or talked, and the emperor remained
near them. Neither General nor Mrs Grant
was invited to JON this select company The
prince came out of it once or twice and
talked with some of his guests, among others
with Gen. Grant: but he said no word 10 Mrs
Grant, and neither the general nor Mrs.
Grant was presented to the princely hostess.
The prince presented Gen. Grant to the Earl
of Dudley, one of the worst bred men in any
company in any country; and his lOrdsiip
was worthy of his reputation on this occa-
sion for he almost turned on his heel He
did not offer his hand, but simply acknowl-
edged his princes introduction with slight
bow. almost d nod, and not one word, and
left the group 1t was by far the most
marked impertinence Gen Grant had re
ceived III sixteen years.
rHE PRINCESS LEAVE.
bo r b,I